ML310758691
Red-shouldered x Red-tailed Hawk (hybrid) Buteo lineatus x jamaicensis
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Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
Red wash/barring on chest, perched on overturned tree with crow. Was eating something earlier on first pass, turned around to confirm. Was initially reported as a RSHA by myself and two days prior by J. Ramirez. Photos and consultation with others have indicated this individual's probable status as a hybrid, which is detailed below. 1. Appearance: At first glance this bird appears like a RSHA given a red wash over the chest, however the red wash is a bit weak and even ends earlier on the belly than expected, adopting a more RTHA-looking belly with a faint "belly band" of larger darker spots. The head is also largely brown in the face and lores with a beefy, RTHA-like bill. Barring on secondaries appears to be either weak or absent, adding to the appearance of a RTHA. The ventral side of the tail is also odd - bands are too thick and too few to be RTHA, but too many and too light for RSHA (at least5 bands seen). Additionally, this is just appears to be a bulky bird for a RSHA. 2. Behavior: By now RSHAs should be well south of here, at northernmost in southern New England. Additionally, this bird hunts over highways like RTHAs do commonly. Additionally, in my experience RSHAs perch more at mid-story heights than RTHAs, which this one seems to both mid and tree tops. 3. Frequency: Presence of hybrids in this area seems to be increasing. A pair is known in Vassalboro, one individual was seen in Benton in 2016, and a local pair with a hybrid parent has produced young - this individual may be the product of that making it a backcross with another RSHA. Would be fascinating to study how hybridization may be changing life histories for these species. Hybridization is known to allow species to rapidly adapt to sudden environmental changes (at least in the worlds of yeast and American Chestnuts!) and back-crossing hybrids with RSHAs could produce RSHA-appearing individuals that may be more cold tolerant or adopt different hunting strategies. Sounds like a good thesis idea, eh? Happy to discuss ideas with folks. Thanks everyone who offered their expertise on the bird, including L Bevier, J. Ramirez, T. Aversa and T. Persons.
Technical information
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